A STAR of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing added an extra special touch to the 10th anniversary of a Keighley-based dance school.

AW School of Dance marked the occasion at Keighley’s Victoria Hall with a tea dance attended by Ian Waite.

Mr Waite is a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer specialising in Latin American dance. He has taken part in seven series of the TV show Strictly Come Dancing.

He has been dancing since he was 10-years-old, turning professional in 1997. He spent five years living and competing in The Netherlands to further his dance expertise.

AW School of Dance was founded by school principal Andrea Wortley in 2009. She had previously spent a number of years teaching for a local ballet school.

Her new dance school initially operated from Sutton Village Hall for two sessions per week, but after it expanded it shifted to its own ballroom in Keighley’s Dalton Mills.

The school occupies a large space on the second floor of the listed building’s clock tower.

Commenting on the anniversary event, Ms Wortley said: “Guests were treated to an afternoon of social dancing, an afternoon tea and a waltz workshop led by Ian, who now appears regularly on BBC2’s programme, It Takes Two.

“Ian shared with us his ‘top tips’, entertained us with some amusing stories and spent a long time chatting to everyone who was there.

“In recent years, pupils of our school have enjoyed visits from other Strictly stars, including Robin Windsor and Kristina Rihanoff.

“Our dancers have also made TV appearances of their own, including dancing live on GMTV, as well as achieving many successes in both local and national competitions.

“We had a wonderful tea dance afternoon, with faces from past and present joining us.

“I was honoured that Ian and so many other special guests could join us for the afternoon, and am grateful to everyone who has made the last 10 years so enjoyable.

“I’m already making plans for our next event.”